I have now completed the two on the Enneagram, also known as the Helper. There was no better person to photograph and interview for this number than my friend, Ariel. Below is a snippet of our conversation and a few photos that represent the wonder and beauty of a two. For more information on the Enneagram or to find out your own number, go to The Enneagram Institute.

Enneagram 2 | The Helper ⠀⠀

What is hard about being a 2?Getting your expectations in check about what others can bring into your life. I find that I overextend & take care of people that can’t give me anything back. I have found that I seem to attract takers so I’m learning to try to surround myself with other givers but finding it lonely in this journey. ⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀What do you like about being a 2?I like being empathetic & caring that much about people. I know that being a 2 allows me to feel love deeper than most & I’m grateful for that.

What is something that you can share with fellow Enneagram 2s that they could possibly identify with? Or to help them feel less alone in their “twoness”?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“I have found that dating has been very hard. Twos are natural fixers & you can’t fix another person. My life has been heartache after heartache of trying to fix someone who doesn’t need me to fix them. I am trying to learn how to hone in on my nurturing abilities instead of my natural inclination to be someone’s caretaker. Twos will give to their detriment, both in friendship & in love relationships. In the past, I have allowed relationships to run me dry. And I don’t want to do that anymore.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

What is a practical way for you to get out of the hard places of being a two?

I journal, meditate, do yoga. I talk about it right when it happens. I try not to go to bed angry with anyone. But I do tend to move towards food for comfort and feeling loved. I just stopped binging on food a little over a year ago. This is the most vulnerable time of my life. The dark side of the two doesn't exist for me much anymore. If I was my "old two", I would be really self hurting through food but I don't do that much anymore. But I struggle everyday to fill that void with food but I now ask myself, "what would Zeita do?" We all need those friends who will hold us accountable and allow us those safe places to land.